Pneumococcal Vaccine

Pneumonia is a respiratory disease that is caused by a bacterial, viral or fungal infection in the lungs. Our lungs are made up of small sacs known as alveoli, which get filled with air when a healthy person breathes. In a person infected with pneumonia, the alveoli are filled with fluid and pus, which makes breathing painful and limits the oxygen intake. Pneumonia vaccination is the best choice for timely prevention of pneumonia in children as well as adults.

How to get Pneumonia Vaccine?

The pneumonia vaccine is of two major types. They are the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV). Your nurse or pharmacist at JMW Vicary will recommend the most suitable vaccine for you based on your age, health and preference.

How is Pneumonia vaccine administered?

The Pneumonia vaccine is given as a single injection in adults. The vaccine is injected as a liquid solution of 0.5 mL into the muscle (intramuscular). It is typically administered in the deltoid muscle, or under the skin (subcutaneous). The area injected is first disinfected by rubbing alcohol onto the skin before the injection.

People vaccinated before age 65 should be again vaccinated at age 65. Keeping a gap of at least five years between the first and current pneumonia vaccination. The second dose should be administered to the at least five years after the first dose to the people with a lack of spleen function, patients with chronic kidney disease, transplant patients, immunosuppressed or immunodeficient people, etc.

What are the common side effects of Pneumonia vaccination?

The common side effects of pneumonia vaccination are

Injection site reactions (soreness, redness, swelling, hard lump)

Fever

Chills

Headache

Muscle or joint aches or pain

Nausea

Vomiting

The side-effects of the pneumonia vaccine in adults version of vaccine are not serious, except an extremely small risk of severe allergic reaction.

JMW Vicary offers reliable and premium-quality pneumonia vaccination services in the UK. Based in Aylesbury, we extend our services to residents of Thame, Long Crendon, Princess Risborough, Chinnor and Haddenham. You can schedule an appointment with JMW Vicary for vaccination. Our travel clinic team will discuss the service with you, including any side effects and how the pneumo jab will be administered. If it’s right for you, our pharmacist will give the pneumonia vaccination to you and guide you about the further care.